Top 10 Kirby Games

When the Nintendo DS launched, the system needed a title that really capitalized on the touchscreen technology. Kirby was up for the challenge and starred in a game that not only offered touch control, but straight up required it. In “Kirby: Canvas Curse” the player must draw lines for Kirby to travel along since he’s been cursed by a witch and transformed into a ball with no limbs. Kirby isn’t defenseless, however, as he still has his copy ability to deal out damage and clear a path to the goal. The 2015 title, “Kirby and the Rainbow Curse” follows up on this formula in crisp HD, and with a cute Claymation art style.

The pink hero’s final outing on the DS multiplied the fun by increasing the amount of Kirby. The player uses a cursor to guide along up to ten Kirbys on the touch screen and forge a path to the exit on each level. The Kirbys act almost like Pikmin (Suggestion: short clip of Pikmin footage here) as they will jump on any enemies you tap and beat them to a pulp. The Kirbys will also interact with environments by pulling on roots or toppling trees. The added challenge comes from collecting medals and other secrets, which give you many reasons to revisit levels. Those are a lot of hungry mouths to feed…

Say you combined “The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords” with “Metroid” and then sprayed the resulting product with color and cuteness—you’d probably get the next game on our list. “Kirby & the Amazing Mirror” was the first game in the series to introduce non-linear levels that branch out allowing for freedom and exploration. The player controls one of four Kirbys who must save Meta Knight and unravel the mysteries of the Mirror World. The game also supports multi-pak cooperative play so friends can link up and work through the adventure together.

While Kirby constantly experiments with different formulas, every once in a while he returns to his roots for some classic platforming bliss. Not to say “Triple Deluxe” doesn’t add any new elements – Kirby can interact with his environment in the foreground and background and use the new “hypernova” ability for some intense inhalation. Add in collectibles, surprisingly deep mini games, and a myriad of power ups all packed into one, tiny cartridge and you’ve got a game that will last many road trips to come.

Kirby’s N64 entry went with a 2.5D platformer – if that makes any sense - which harkens back to his 8 and 16-bit roots. The main focus of “Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards” is the ability to combine power ups to create new and stronger ones. For example, the fire power combined with the spike power makes Kirby shoot flaming arrows, while two cutter power ups make Kirby fling a huge, spiked boomerang. Certain areas in levels can only be accessed with specific abilities and if you want that 100% clear you’ll have to explore every nook and cranny.

How do you make this cute overpowered monster even more dangerous? Give him a armored mech suit of course. Kirby’s newest ride comes courtesy of his newest foes, the Haltmann Works Company, whom have invaded Planet Pop Star with the intent to mechanize the planet and it’s inhabitants, in order to expand their empire. Following up from Kirby Triple Deluxe, this game brings over most of his trademark abilities, and his ability to copy enemy powers now also extends to his robot suit. You also got new features like the Jet Power-up turning the game into a 2D Shoot em Up, and Amiibo support unlocking new hidden abilities, including Kirby’s moveset from Super Smash Bros. Awesome.

The third entry in the “Dream Land” series takes the core ideas from the first two games and goes further than those titles ever could. The gameadds more of the animal friends that were introduced in “Dream Land 2” to vary up the gameplay and change Kirby’s power ups depending on who he’s teamed up with. Because it was released so late in the Super Nintendo’s life cycle, “Dream Land 3” sports extremely polished graphics and crisp audio that come together for a seriously fleshed out and impressive package.

This next game was actually in development for 11 years*, going through many, many changes in the process before finally hitting store shelves, and, luckily, the finished product doesn’t disappoint. “Kirby’s Return to Dream Land” allows for up to 4-players to work together through the game as Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight, and Waddle Dee scouring Dream Land for items called Energy Spheres and toppling any foes that get in their way. Much like “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” the co-op play allows others to join in and drop out of the game seamlessly and the different characters’ playstyles add nice variety to the mix.

Kirby sure has a knack for getting cursed by magical, malevolent forces, because at the start of “Kirby’s Epic Yarn” he’s turned into, you guessed it, yarn. He loses his ability to inhale foes, but, now he can transform on the fly into a parachute, car, submarine, tank and even a snowboarding penguin. Kirby can unravel foes and blocks in his environments to clear the way or reveal some extra goodies. The peaceful music and charming art style come together to create a soothing experience with couch co-op to boot. We’ll bet you’ve never had this much fun with yarn!

Before we float our way over to number one, here are a few honorable mentions:

“Kirby’s Tilt ‘n’ Tumble” (2001)
“Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land” (2002)
“Kirby Air Ride” (2003)
“Kirby’s Adventure” (1993)

What’s better than one game? Eight games. “Kirby Super Star” on Super Nintendo is very upfront about its value. A majority of the games consist of platforming-based levels with varying objectives, like finding treasure or fighting bosses. The game adds new powers as well as the ability to recruit an absorbed enemy as your partner throughout levels. In 2008, Nintendo released a remake on the DS as “Kirby Super Star Ultra” with improved visuals and full-motion video cutscenes as well as more bosses, new mini-games, and added collectibles. This star certainly shines the brightest!

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Kirby game? For more informative Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.